Booters finish season with a bang

Campus Times
November 8, 1996

The La Verne women's soccer team played its last game of the season, which
ended in a 4-0 win. During halftime, family and friends of the senior players
exchanged flowers and hugs. It was the last game they would play for La
Verne.

Not expecting a bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, the University of
La Verne women's soccer team took the field Saturday against the Claremont
Mudd-Scripps Athenas and did what they do best, they had fun playing the
game of soccer.

"We played a good season, we had fun. Once the pressure was off we
did good," said senior Jenny Zwissler who was playing in her final
game as a Leopard.

In front of a large home crowd filled with family and friends the Leopards
finished their season 15-4 overall, with a 4-0 win over Claremont, finishing
SCIAC 10-2.

"We won't be able to go [to the championships]," said head coach
Wendy Zwissler, "but we had fun."

The only goal for the half came from the La Verne defense as senior Jamey
Hesler scored on as assist from Jenny Zwissler. "It was great to score
a goal in my final game at La Verne," said Hesler.

Leaving the first half, 1-0, the halftime was devoted to honoring the team
The graduating seniors Jenny and Jacqui Zwissler, Tiffany Hall, Lisa Thomas,
Ana Delgado, Jamie Hesler, Tori Bare and Kari Trotter were presented flowers
by family and friends.

"It was a very, very, emotional game. It hit me hard that this was
the last time I would play with them," said junior Amber Hall, "They
taught me so much, I've never played with players like them before."

Teresa Avila, a friend of coach Zwissler, sang "I wish you love"
a dedication to all the graduating seniors in hope for their futures. This
was followed by the entire team going to center field for pictures while
the Sister Sledge's "We are Family" filled the field.

"It was sad, but really nice," said Jenny Zwissler.

"There is no halftime show that could be good enough, that could say
how much they [the seniors] mean to us," said Amber Hall.

"With soccer season at the start of the year I would just get excited
for the entire school year," said senior Ana Delgado "I just love
to play."

The halftime ceremony energized La Verne, who dominated the second half
scoring in the first five minutes on a corner kick. Jacqui Zwissler floated
the ball deep into the Athenas zone where Mejico dove to head that ball
into the side post rebounding it to the back of the net.

In what could have been an instant replay eight minutes later, Lisa Thomas
drilled a corner kick to the center of the field where Mejico used her head
to bounce the ball of the right post and once again into the back of the
net, giving La Verne a decisive 3-0 lead.

The Athenas threatened with 26 minutes left and a break away from the ULV
defenders down the right side of the field but losing the ball to ULV goal
keeper Tiffany Hall after dribbling too far out.

La Verne burned a hole in the back of the net for the last time in the match
with 14 minutes left as Jacqui Zwissler took a ground pass across the goal
mouth from the right side of the field to the left, scoring to give La Verne
the final 4-0 victory.

"We might not have made the championships," said Jenny Zwissler
"but we made alot of good memories."

Looking back at the past four years, Delgado said, "Every year we are
getting better."

"They (the seniors) got the respect we now have from all the teams
everywhere," said Amber Hall, "Those girls were the ones that
totally started our program and got it to where it is now."

"Awesome" was the word used by coach Zwissler to describe the
past four years of women's soccer at La Verne. Zwissler said next year she
plans on "doing the same thing."